Bobbi Queen, a longtime editor at Women’s Wear Daily known for her influential role in shaping the fashion industry and supporting emerging designers, died on July 3 at her Manhattan home. She was 84. According to her daughter, Pilar Queen, the cause of death was a heart attack.

Ms. Queen’s career at Women’s Wear Daily began in the early 1970s during a transformative era for the publication and the broader fashion landscape. Under the leadership of publisher John Fairchild, the magazine evolved from a modest trade journal into a leading authority on fashion, known for both its coverage of designers and its insights into society trends. Ms. Queen was integral to this shift, championing American designers such as Perry Ellis, Willi Smith, Giorgio Sant’Angelo and Donna Karan, helping to elevate their profiles at a time when the industry was gaining new cultural traction.

Her insightful reporting reflected major social changes of the period, including second-wave feminism and shifting ideals around women’s workwear and body image. She notably introduced readers to key fashion moments, such as the 1975 launch of Halston’s “Skimp” minidress and the rising popularity of ultra-tight jeans, capturing the era’s evolving style with detailed descriptions. Ms. Queen also profiled designers like Norma Kamali, highlighting her innovative designs that celebrated athletic female physiques in the late 1970s.

Colleagues recall Ms. Queen as a distinctive voice in fashion journalism, combining sharp editorial judgment with a personal style that set her apart in a pre-digital age. Ruth La Ferla, a former Women’s Wear reporter, described her as part of a generation of editors whose influence was rooted in their authoritative and inventive approaches, long before fashion became fragmented across social media platforms.

Despite her status as a tastemaker, Ms. Queen was not known for seeking power; rather, she was valued for her candid critiques and genuine passion for fashion. Ben Brantley, a former Women’s Wear critic, noted that while she was passionate, she did not adhere to any dogmatic approach to her work. Designers often sought her approval, recognizing that her reviews could significantly impact their careers. Ralph Rucci, a noted designer, recalled how her feedback could pinpoint even small details that might alter the perception of an entire collection.

Throughout her career, Ms. Queen consistently championed new talent, giving early coverage to designers like Donna Karan when she launched her own label in 1984, as well as Vera Wang and the design duo Badgley Mischka. Mark Badgley described her as a formidable presence whose visits to preview collections would “terrify” design teams, underscoring her ability to influence the fashion world from behind the scenes.

Born Barbara Sela Queen on February 22, 1942, in Queens, New York, she grew up in Lakewood, New Jersey. After a brief stint at Boston University, she studied fashion at the Tobé-Coburn School in Manhattan before working as a buyer for the department store Gimbels. Over the years at Women’s Wear Daily, she covered a wide range of divisions including evening wear, underwear, ready-to-wear and furs, approaching each with detailed expertise comparable to political journalism.

Ms. Queen retired in 2015. She is survived by her daughter, Pilar, three grandchildren, a sister, Lisa Queen, and a brother, Eric. As a single mother, she balanced her demanding career while nurturing her daughter, who described being raised within the walls of Women’s Wear Daily’s office as a formative experience.

An incident from her life that colleagues fondly remember involved her being mugged near her Upper West Side apartment, an event she recounted with precise attention to detail that exemplified her keen observational skills honed over decades in fashion reporting.

Bobbi Queen’s legacy endures through her contributions to fashion journalism and her role in launching the careers of some of the industry’s most enduring figures. Her blend of sharp intellect, strong opinions, and personal charm made her a unique figure in the fashion world for nearly half a century.